Skill Level 2Occupations at Skill Level 2 typically involve the performance of tasks such as operating machinery and electronic equipment; driving vehicles; maintenance and repair of electrical and mechanical equipment; and manipulation, ordering and storage of information

Skill Level 3Occupations at Skill Level 3 typically involve the performance of complex technical and practical tasks that require an extensive body of factual, technical and procedural knowledge in a specialized field.

Skill Level 4Occupations at Skill Level 4 typically involve the performance of tasks that require complex problem-solving, decision-making and creativity based on an extensive body of theoretical and factual knowledge in a specialized field.

Power production plant operators 3131

Power production plant operators operate, monitor and maintain switchboards and related equipment in electrical control centres which control the production and distribution of electrical or other power in transmission networks.
The equipment operated includes reactors, turbines, generators and other auxiliary equipment in electrical power-generating stations (ILO, 2018).

Background Information

As power operators retire, the workforce has shifted towards other professions thus creating a continuous lack of skilled personnel. Concurrently, businesses have utilized technologies that provide automated operational and efficiency solutions as well as integrated condition monitoring, management and data analysers. The rise of subcontractors has also allowed companies to discard in-house maintenance personnel to outside companies (Larson, 2015). Shifting from coal based to gas based power plants has also shifted the requirements for employment in the energy production sector (Wagman , 2017), «…Nordman said that 10 to 15 years ago, a common estimate was that one person was needed for each MW at its facilities, but not anymore. Now it is far fewer…» (Bradsher, 2017)(Gold, 2018).

Finally, the biggest challenge is the wide adoption of renewable technologies that are more dispersed and fragmented than centralized power plant systems and are consequently more labour intensive, although creation of massive power plants and automation means than operators job growth will be stable or even diminish (Bureau of Labor Statistics , 2018)

CASE EXAMPLES

Case Examples 1

Case Examples 2

Case Examples 3

Case Examples 1

One of the largest solar power plant in the world is the facility of Kamuthi, Tamil Nadu, which has a capacity of 648 Megawatts and it has a sophisticated robot system that cleans the solar panels every day to keep it continually at peak efficiency (Al Jazeera, 2016)

Case Examples 2

Solar Thermal PlantsThe largest solar thermal plant in the world is the national solar program in Morocco, also called NOOR (light in Arabic). This plant is planned to reach 2000 Megawatts by 2020. While occupations during construction abounded (ranging from about 2000 to 4000 workers during peak construction) with a permanent staff being able to be interchanged between the facilities, to reduce expenses (Noor II and Noor III eye cost savings from site integration, 2016).

Case Examples 3

IoT and AutomationNew IoT monitoring and managing technologies has allowed companies to replace coal power plants with bigger gas operated ones. The new technologies allow for a great reduction in operators, in one case “…it will replace three existing coal-fired units that currently employ more than 500 people. Job openings at the new gas-fired plant? Thirty-five full-time employee…“(Wagman , 2017).